The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology

Mark your calendars! Monday, May 22nd at 3:30 PM CST, we have a new episode of The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast for you. Dive into the dynamic synergy of sales professionals and building automation system (BAS) technicians, and discover how this potent combination can revolutionize your approach to building automation challenges. In this episode, we explore how salespersons can harness the tech...

Did you miss our special episode on May 19th? Don't worry, it's right here waiting for you. This one's all about summer at Smart Buildings Academy (SBA) and we promise it's full of sizzle! First up, we introduced our new podcast lineup, featuring four fresh voices that are now part of the conversation. Plus, we unveiled our upcoming workforce development initiative - it's set to transform the next...

If you missed our live show on Friday, May 12th, don't fret! "Creating Smart Spaces: Enhancing Occupant Comfort with Building Automation," is right here for you to dive into. In this episode, we explored the magic of building automation systems in transforming ordinary facilities into smart spaces that prioritize occupant comfort and satisfaction. You'll discover how these innovative systems tailo...

In this insightful episode, we ventured into the transformative world of predictive maintenance and how it can revolutionize your facility management approach. We dissected the concept of moving from reactive to proactive maintenance, making your operations more efficient and cost-effective. Starting with a clear definition of predictive maintenance, we compared it with reactive and preventive mai...

In this enlightening episode, we delved into the fascinating world of smart buildings and sustainable practices. We explored how the latest innovations in building technology can transform your facility into an energy-efficient haven. We kicked off the conversation by defining smart buildings and highlighting their evolution. We then uncovered key sustainable practices like energy efficiency, cons...

🎧 Tune in to a game-changing podcast episode that's already rocking the world of sustainable buildings! 🌿🏢 🔊 Presenting: "SBA 422: Zeroing in on Net-Zero: Unpacking ASHRAE 228-2023" – a must-listen for all building pros! We had a blast going LIVE on Monday, April 24th, and now you can catch the episode! 📅⏰ Join the conversation as we dive into ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 228-2023 – the ultimate gui...

🎧 BAS Implementation 101: Strategies for a Seamless Rollout 🚀 Get ready to level up your BAS implementation game! In this episode, we're dishing out the top strategies for a smooth and successful rollout. We'll walk you through crafting the perfect timeline, assembling your all-star team, mastering communication, and planning for those pesky curveballs. So grab your headphones, and let's dive in...

🚀 Recorded live on 4-17 at 12PM PST: SBA 420 - The BAS Selection Bible: Your Go-To Guide for Evaluating and Choosing the Right System! 🏢 Hey, fellow BAS enthusiasts! Ready to make informed decisions about your building automation system? We've got you covered with our latest podcast episode, where we dive into the crucial aspects of selecting the right BAS solution, featuring insights from Phil...

In this episode, we'll guide you through the BAS Blueprint, providing you with the essential steps to evaluate systems, set goals, and budget for your facility. 🛠️ We'll walk you through conducting a thorough needs assessment 📋, engaging key stakeholders 🤝, setting SMART goals 🎯, and evaluating your existing infrastructure 🔍. Plus, we'll discuss budget considerations, project timelines, and ho...

Hey there! Welcome to Episode 418 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast with Phil Zito. In this episode, we dive deeper into building automation systems (BAS) for facility management. We cover topics like the purpose and objectives of implementing a BAS, its components, protocols, benefits, and some real-world examples. If you're new here, we have 417+ episodes for you to explore at smartbuilding...

Are you a facility manager looking to enhance your building's performance and efficiency? Tune in to our latest episode where we cover the essential steps to successfully implementing a Building Automation System (BAS). We'll walk you through: 1️⃣ Understanding BAS and its components 2️⃣ Assessing your facility's needs and goals 3️⃣ Selecting the right BAS solution 4️⃣ Developing a comprehensive i...

In this episode we continue our multipart series on BAS Project Estimates. We will cover: How to create a bill of materials How to identify item requirements for your BoM And our live Q&A Session!

Your building automation systems been compromised. What do you do now? Whether it's by ransomware, exploits, or other attacks there is still hope. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to look at the response to cybersecurity attacks and intrusions. We will look at actions you can take right now to ensure you have the ability to recover from an attack, how to preserve...

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we talk with Abby Massey of Calvetti Ferguson. Abby has a deep understanding of the 179D tax code changes and how they impact the building automation market.  In this episode you will learn: What 179D is The changes to 179D as part of the IRA How you can use 179D to create more retrofit opportunities The requirements of a 179D tax deduction

Everyone's talking about Smart Buildings. But how do you actually "do" a smart building? In today's episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we interview Sabine Lam of Google. Sabine has deep experience with developing and deploying an integrated system architecture across a broad portfolio of buildings. Sabine and I explore how Google approached the problem of data sanitization, creating a...

How do you estimate a building automation project? In this episode we continue our multipart series on BAS Project Estimates. We will cover: How to perform a takeoff How to build a scope document How to identify scope items And our live Q&A Session!

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we continue our multipart series on cyber security. In today's episode we are going to dive deeper into exploit phase, which is the second phase of a cyber security attack. Here we will be looking deeper into techniques and tools that are used to exploit potential targets. We will explore how to protect your building automation system and you...

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we are going to answer the listener questions we have gathered over the past several months. We will also be taking live questions from any of our listener/viewers as well.

Estimating building automation work can be very difficult. You have so many moving parts and pieces that can affect your project cost. In this Smart Buildings Academy Podcast series, we are going to dive deep into the topic of estimating. This multipart series will discuss: Estimating Techniques Takeoffs Bill of Material Generation Cost category identification If you're looking to learn how to est...

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy, we are going to discuss how to identify energy and sustainability centered buyers. It should be no surprise that building owners are focused on sustainability and energy. Between regulations, incentives, and utility costs organizations are increasingly establishing energy and carbon guidelines for their facilities. This presents a great opportunity f...

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast we continue our multipart series on cyber security.  In today's episode we are going to dive deeper into reconnaissance, which is the first phase of a cyber security attack. Here we will be looking deeper into techniques and tools that are used to actively and passively gather information on potential targets.  We will explore how to protect y...

Cyber Security is not that hard. Over the next several episodes we are going to be exploring cyber security concepts and tying them to building automation. My hope is that by the end of this series you will have an understanding of cyber security theory and processes. This is meant to be an interactive episode so be sure to tune in and ask questions as we explore this topic.

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we interview Saheel Chandrani with ABB. I'm really excited for two reasons. One, ABB is discussing my favorite topic, workforce! You can have the best technology but without a clear plan to develop and support the workforce nothing else you do matters. The other reason I'm excited is because you, our audience, and I get to be on the front row...

Nick Sanchez is the next generation of BAS technicians.  The traditional strategy of hiring someone else's employees has failed. This strategy simply cannot produce the amount of talented employees you need to run your building automation business. But where do you find folks like Nick?  And how do you train folks like Nick? In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast I chat with Nick a...

So you have a customer who might be interested in a retrofit, what next?  One of the most common ways to start the retrofit sales process is to perform a site audit. To be clear, this is not a ASHRAE energy audit or a IPMVP pre-audit. This audit exists to ensure you have an accurate understanding of what needs to be done in order to perform a site retrofit. In this episode of the Smart Buildings A...